Bayard[Bedtime stories 3] Read Online Free PDF

doing a lot to help us around here and I worry we might be taking advantageof that kindness.”
“You really worry about me?” I whispered, not sure if anyone had cared so much about my well-being since my parents.
“We all discussed it over dinner. It’s hard to know though for sure if you’re getting rest or not since we don’t know where you go during the day.”
“I want to tell you all,” I hedged, taking another bite of the roll to decide what I wanted to say. “I just need a little more time.”
“I wasn’t trying to push you,” he said quickly and then relaxed when I smiled. “You’ve done so much for us, Taji. Dromio was able to sell all those extra muffins and the baker was quite pleased with him. We need that income until we get this place up and running.”
“It was fun actually,” I giggled and then sipped more ale. “I haven’t baked anything since I was a boy.”
“That can’t have been that many years ago.” He eyed me over and I understood that look. My appearance was about twenty-one years old.
“Would it make you uncomfortable to know my real age? I’m much older than I look,” I warned.
“Callum told me you were magic so I guessed it’s not what you appear.”
“I’m over three hundred years old.” His eyes went wide as his jaw dropped slightly. “Still want to know me?”
“Of course,” he sputtered as I kept eating. “Age is just a number, Taji. It’s not like you look that age. I think you are beautiful.”
“Would you not want me if I was older looking?”
“Only if I was too,” he joked and gave me a wink. I could live with that answer. Humans had such strange ideas of what beauty and morality were to them. I finished the food in silence, taking another drink of ale before Brix set everything down next to him on the porch. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“We could do that,” I agreed. I wasn’t sure what the plan was but if he wanted to get more comfortable with me I was fine with it. “Or I could give you relief and ease your worries right now?”
He blushed as he moved me off his lap before he stood. “I’m quite vocal and I didn’t want to announce to everyone what we were doing. Besides, I’d like to spend some time talking with you first if that’s okay. You intrigue me.”
“All right then.” I smiled at him as he took my hand. We walked down to the stream, talking about the land and their plans on how to turn the farm around.
“Eventually I’d like to put in a shop. Ansel said as soon as we have money to start buying materials he would make sure it gets done. I was known for the swords I made back in the village I used to live in.”
“I assume working with fire would make you very hot.” I cleared my throat and leered at his large, muscular frame. “You’d probably work shirtless and be sweaty. I like watching you work like that.”
He stumbled a step and I realized my mistake. “When have you seen me work, Taji?”
“I never go that far during the day,” I answered honestly but vaguely. “I see and hear lots of things.”
“Oh.” There was a quiet moment before his next question. “Why do you only come out at night then?”
“It’s complicated,” I sighed and let go of his hand. I sat on the bank of the stream, staring out at the running water. “I’ve trusted the wrong people before so it’s hard for me to know who is worthy of telling the truth to. Please be patient with me.”
“Okay, baby,” he whispered as he wrapped an arm around me after sitting as well. I snuggled into the embrace and he kissed my hair. “Can I ask what happens after tonight?”
“What do you mean?” I glanced up at him and saw worry on his face. “What troubles you?”
“Does Callum meet you tomorrow again? Will we rotate spending time with you, work out a schedule or something? This is all so strange to me, Taji.”
“You don’t have to be with me,” I snapped and pulled away from him. Why did people have to complicate